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“ Mother, tell me a Fairy Story ? 




/ 


FAIRY SURPRISES 
for LITTLE FOLKS 


By E 


MILY PALMER 




NEW YORK 

ARCHITECTURE PRESS 
225 Fifth Avenue 
1908 


CAPE 



LIB»ARY of CONaRESS.^ 
I Two Copies Kecesvtjd 

FEB 1 4 ! y08 

7 

CLASS A \U, hL 

/ q C, 

ROPY B. 


Entered according to the Act of Congress in the year 1907 
By Emily Palmer Cape 
in the office of the I^ibrarian at Washington, D. C. 


5)e^^cate^ 

TO 

Henry Cape, Jr., and Mary Story Cape 

WHO HAVE HELPED ME TO WRITE THESE 
LITTLE P'AIRY STORIES 
WITH THREADS OF LOVE AND CHEER. 


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2 


PREFACE. 


B efore these stories were gathered 
together for publication, a number of 
hours were spent with a group of little faces 
seated about me, listening with keenest inter- 
est to “one more Fairy Story !” 

So many friends had suggested to me, that 
they had looked all over for such stories to 
tell their little ones, and begged me to write 
out a few that would bring into their homes 
the happy hours we had spent together 
while watching the children’s faces when 
listening. 

I felt that children were the best critics. 
So, after writing out several stories, I invit- 
ed a group of little ones to hear them read, 
and watched if their interest was sufficient 
for me to really give them in book form. 


7 


Several times I asked a party of little folks 
to listen, and it Was often amusing to see the 
hasty elbow nudging, and threatening looks 
of each one, if anything should interrupt our 
happy reading. It is with love for the little 
people and their mothers, that I send these 
Fairy Stories into the world. 

The Author. 


s 


THE MOONBEAM FAIRIES. 



“A boat passing by looked like a large black shadow.” (See page 12.) 


The Moonbeam Fairies. 

A LITTLE boy with a big straw hat 
on, and long blue overalls, was 
looking far out to sea and thinking if 
the story his uncle had told him could 
be true. 

^'Well,’’ thought Jack, “Til see for 
myself.'’ Seated on his uncle’s knee, 
the evening* before, and hearing the 
most wonderful story about the fairies 
that lived in the moonlight, he longed 
to see them for himself, and decided to 
steal from the house that vei*}^ night 
and walk up to the beach till he could 
be alone and watch out for the moon 
fairies. 

After supper it soon grew dark and 


II 


little Jack stole out of the back door 
and ran up the beach to sit upon the 
sand and wait for the moon to appear. 
As it grew darker he began to feel a 
little strange, and wondered if they'd 
missed him from home. Then he re- 
membered the 'Tig folks” always sat up 
late, and would be all talking together 
on the front porch. 

A great round red light soon attract- 
ed Jack's attention, and he wondered 
what that could be way off on the edge 
of the water ! It seemed to grow bigger 
and he watched it with earnest atten- 
tion. A boat passing by looked like a 
large black shadow, and soon the great 
red ball rose so fast that Jack recog- 
nized it as the moon and laughed him- 
self when he thought — now, he should 
see the fairies. 


12 


A rift of fleecy clouds floated by, and 
obscured the moon’s brilliant rays for a 
few moments. But as the beautiful 
light once more shone forth and danced 
on each wave that came creeping* to the 
shore, Jack became aware of different 
colors that surrounded each dash of 
water that struck the sand. As he 
gazed far out to sea and saw the lovely 
long trail of light that came directly 
from the moon, he studied it with rapt 
attention, and longed to see the fairies 
he had heard so much about. 

Soon the moonlight divided itself 
into long dancing bands of silver and 
gold; and from the moon Jack saw a 
fairy ladder that was built from the 
very edge of the waves to the moon 
itself. How intently he gazed! how he 
held his breath for fear the longed-for 


13 


reality would fade away! Soon he 
noticed a whole band of wee fairies 
going up and down the ladder. The 
more earnestly he gazed the more he 
saw, and some were dancing in the 
greatest glee, others held hands and 
were singing songs. 

Jack longed to touch one, to hold one 
in his hand and talk to it. He crept 
very steadily and slowly down to the 
edge of the waves, and placing his 
hands in the water soon had the de- 
light of feeling a spry little elf tickling 
his hand so he could hardly hold the 
palm open any longer. “What do you 
want?’’ asked the wee fairy. “Oh! I 
do want to mount that beautiful ladder 
to the moon,” said Jack. “Well, come 
with me and I will tell our beautiful 
Queen your wish,” said she. “But how 


14 


shall I come and where shall I go? I 
am so big!’’ said Jack. He could not 
help but laugh to himself to think of his 
feeling so big. “Ah!” said the little 
sprite, “you can mount the ladder with 
me in your hand, for I can give you 
the power of the fairies.” Saying this 
she began to ascend the silver and gold 
ladder and Jack found himself as light 
as the fairy. A few steps brought them 
to the rung where the Fairy Queen was 
clapping her tiny hands in admiration 
of a dance that some very beautiful 
little fairies were performing for her. 

Jack and his wee guide waited until 
the dance was over, and then he asked 
the Queen if it were possible to allow 
him to be taken to the moon that night. 
“Why do you want to go?” asked the 
lovely Queen. “Because uncle has told 
15 


me how wonderful it is up there/’ said 
Jack. 

“All right/’ answered the Queen, 
“you may go and remain a short time, 
but remember if you stay too long, you 
may not return by the moonlight ladder, 
and we shall keep you forever.” 

With these words Jack squeezed the 
little fairy guide and hastened up the 
ladder, rung by rung. How easy it 
seemed, he almost appeared to fly ! 
How many, many fairies he met ! Some 
tumbling about in great glee, others 
chatting and talking as they fluttered 
about the ladder, never falling away 
from the silver and gold threads from 
which it was made. At last Jack 
reached the moon. Such a scene was 
the greatest surprise. He could not 
have ever imagined anything so mar- 


velous. The entire moon seemed to 
him like one great garden of crystals. 
Shimmering everywhere were long 
paths bordered with flowers, trees 
laden with fruit, birds, and butterflies, 
— all dazzling with the exquisite colors 
that Jack had only seen in his mother’s 
diamonds. A game of ball, where a lot 
of little crystal marbles were being 
tossed in the air, made Jack laugh out 
loud; and a running race over a smooth 
pond of ice, in which Jack joined, gave 
him the greatest delight, for he won 
the race. He wished he could stay a 
week, so many surprises met him at 
every turn. But the little elf that was 
taking Jack about, soon looked where 
the moonbeam ladder was and called 
him, saying: ''We must hurry, or the 
sun fairies will be spreading through 


space, and we shall be lost, and then 
yon should not be allowed to return to 
earth, as our Queen told you/’ So 
Jack hurried along and reaching the 
ladder almost flew rung by rung, till 
the edge of the water was reached, then 
looking for the fairy in his hand to 
thank him for the good time he had 
had, he found the sun peeping in at 
his window, and ran to his mother 
to ask her if she had put him to bed 
last night, as he was sure he did not 
remember it. 

His mother took him in her arms, 
told him how when they went to 
call him at bed time, they could not 
find him and how his father walked 
up and down the beach asking all if 
they had seen his little boy. Then how, 
he had discovered Jack asleep on the 

i8 


sand with the high tide creeping very 
near to him. 

She pressed the little lad closer to her, 
as she felt how dangerous it might have 
been, if his father had not found him 
just when he did. 


19 



THE WINDOW FAIRY. 



“ I had just stepped out beneath my window.” (See page 23.) 


The Window Fairy. 

I T was summer time, and I had just 
stepped out beneath my window, 
with my book in my hand, to wait for 
Dottie to take a walk in the flower 
garden with me. Such a strange little 
noise I heard, that I looked up to see 
what it was. Right across my path, 
several feet away, I saw the sweetest 
little fairy. I had often read of fairies, 
and knew they liked to be talked to, so 
I said: “Well, little Fairy, what is your 
name?'’ “My name is 'Window Fairy',” 
she replied. “Why are you called that,'' 
I asked. “It is because I always draw 
pictures on the windows in Winter, 
when the frost is there,'' answered the 


23 


fairy. ''And what do you do in Sum- 
mer "I carry messages for the 
flowers.'’ "Why! can the flowers talk?” 
I inquired. 

"Come with me,” said the fairy, "and 
I will let you hear for yourself.” "May 
I wait for a dear little girl who is to be 
with me in a moment? We were just 
going to take a walk in the flower gar- 
den.” "Yes, you may wait and the 
little girl will always love the flowers 
better, after she has heard what they 
say.” 

Soon Dottie came running along and 
I introduced my little fairy friend. We 
all walked down the path, to a great bed 
of nasturtiums. Never before had I 
passed there and noticed anything but 
one mass of glorious color. To-day 
Dottie looked up at me smiling, and 


24 


said “Why listen to the flowers talk- 
ing!” Such good-natured fun and 
comical jokes, such merriment one 
never heard. “Let us have a game of 
sunshine,” said one big yellow nastur- 
tium. “All right,” joined in a crowd of 
little happy voices. Out from the 
throats of each little flower a ray of 
golden light was thrown, and one pretty 
nasturtium after the other would catch 
a new thread of light, throw it up in the 
air, and again catch another. Dorothy 
laughed aloud and looking into the little 
fairy’s face said : “Oh, I wish you’d stay 
with me always!” “Come,” answered 
the Window Fairy, “let us go on to the 
clover field, for there we will have great 
fun.” “Take our love to the daisies and 
clover,” said a deep-red nasturtium, as 
he turned his face in the wind and 


25 


laughed aloud, for a whole bundle 
of big sunshine came rushing down 
upon him. 

Along the path to the clover field we 
could hear the grasses and buttercups, 
and all the pretty flowers, giving our 
little friend. Window Fairy, messages 
to carry to the other flowers as she went 
along. At last reaching the big field, 
we sat down beneath a tree, and listened 
to what we should hear. Never before 
had I imagined that the flowers had 
such fun. One game we enjoyed very 
much: each pretty pink clover would 
bend its head towards its neighbor, and 
tell it a secret; then the next one would 
do the same and so quickly they passed 
the secret to the end of the field, the last 
clover starting another secret to come 
back again, and then the clovers would 

26 


see which way they had whispered the 
faster. 

Window Fairy looked at Dottie and 
me and laughingly said: “Very often 
when you see the clovers bending their 
heads, and there seems but a very little 
wind astir, you must know that they are 
playing that game.” 

Window Fairy then hastened us off to 
a field where great yellow and white 
daisies grew. “Hark,” she said, “they 
have begun their afternoon concert." 
We listened, and could see the big 
black-eyed Susans lifting their leaves, 
one by one, causing a note to vibrate, 
deep and long. Then a white-petal daisy 
would sing a dainty note, and soon all 
the beautiful flowers chimed in accord. 

“Why can’t we take a walk every day 
together?” asked Dorothy of the Win- 


27 


clow Fairy, and the little girl’s eyes 
looked so bright and happy, that the 
fairy promised every clear sunshiny day, 
they could meet right beneath the 
window we had first made her acquain- 
tance. 

Sunset time was nearing, and as we 
walked quietly home there seemed to be 
a beautiful sound all about us. Dor- 
othy, Window Fairy, and I, listened 
and did not say a word, for all the 
flowers and leaves and grasses were 
saying 'Good-night,’ and sending a lov- 
ing thought throughout the air. Dear 
little Dorothy squeezed my hand, and, 
pulling me close to her whispered in my 
ear : "I am never going to sleep again 
without thinking-: of what the 'flowers 
said as they bid good-night at sunset 
time.” 


28 


THE CLAM SHELL’S STORY. 



The Clam Shell’s Story. 

F ive clam-shells were lying close 
together on the wet sand. “What 
shall we do ?” said the baby one, “when 
the waves come dashing in, we may be 
washed apart, and I don’t want to leave 
you all.” 


30 


The biggest one felt a sand-crab 
passing beneath him, and found himself 
shifting his position a little, as the sand 
fell away. “Let me tell you what we’ll 
do,” said he, and he found he could look 
much better on the other clam-shells, 
since the world had moved for him 
where the sand-crab had dug so near. 

“When I was a little clam-shell,” he 
continued, “I was washed way up on the 
beach by a very big wave at high tide. 
Not another wave came to help me, and 
day after day I could see all the shells I 
so longed to be near, and talk to. I 
began to wonder why it was I had been 
made just to be tossed up on the sand 
that way, and end my days by crumb- 
ling into small pieces, being left soon 
to turn into the soft white bed I lay on. 
While these thoughts were bothering 


31 


me, a little boy with bare feet came 
running by. ^Oh! look,’ said he to a 
lady with him, 'I have found such a 
lovely shell ! See how smooth it is, and 
how well I may dig with it !’ He picked 
me up, and, though I feared he might 
break me or carry me away from all 
my friends, I was thankful to have any 
experience rather than die there so use- 
less and so unhappy. The little lad walk- 
ed along the beach, his fingers rubbing 
gently, and I could hear him say every 
little while, ‘Just like velvet, mother; is 
it not a beauty?’ So I felt a certain 
sense of relief, and even of joy to know 
I had gotten into the hands of a kindly 
person and not one that would hurt me 
intentionally. He had not walked 
along the beach very far, before he 
slipped me into his pocket, and I heard 


32 


him exclaim with delight, 'See the big 
jelly-fish, is he not a large one, and so 
pretty to look at !’ At first I felt a little 
hurt to think he should have forgotten 
me so soon, and already commence to 
admire another sea-treasure; but, when 
I thought how he cherished me so care- 
fully in his pocket and intended pro- 
bably to still like me too, I laughed to 
myself, and understood how he of 
course should enjoy and praise all the 
many beautiful things there were to dis- 
cover, and that he should find on the 
beach. Not may minutes passed, and I 
felt a soft, smooth, cool object descend 
into my apartment. It was so dark T 
could not see what it was, so I listened, 
and soon heard the quiet voice of the 
jelly-fish (you know all the sea-treas- 
ures talk so low and sweetly, that 


33 


human ears cannot even hear a note of 
what we say) ; well, this is what he 
said: 'Mr. Clam-shell, what are you 
going to do about it ? I don’t like living 
here, and we are so slow, we can’t walk ; 
how are we ever going to get out of 
this dark and uncomfortable home?’ I 
began to feel somewhat saddened, for I 
never dreamed that I might be for- 
gotten, and let remain the rest of my 
days there. 'I am so sorry now that he 
found me,’ I said, 'because before, I 
lived in the happy fields of hoping, and 
now I feel despair, that I shall never 
return to my friends.’ 'Ah!’ said the 
jelly-fish, 'let me inform you of a won- 
derful place, if you ever happen to get 
out of this dark dungeon again. Way 
down beneath the sea, leagues below the 
rolling waves, and where man has never 


34 


reached, is a very large emerald-green 
basin; it is large enough for a million 
water fairies to live in, and each one 
has his special duties and cares of the 
treasures of the sea. There is one who 
takes care of all the clam-shells, and if 
you know the password to the basin, you 
can find yourself there at once. Then 
one wish is granted you, and it always 
comes true. I wished that I should be 
very long lived, and so / do not worry 
about the lad’s keeping me very long in 
his pocket. But you may be preserved 
to be used pften on the beach to dig 
with, or you may be carried to his home 
as a treasure, and placed on a shelf with 
a lot of other old things, as trophies.’ 
I remember how I shuddered and how 
I hated the cold-blooded jelly-fish’s talk- 
ing to me so. If it had not been for 


35 


longing to know the password, 1 
should have pinched him with a clam’s 
pride. Very soon the jelly-fish whis- 
pered the password. 'J^st think it,’ said 
he; 'don’t say it out loud. When you 
are in the basin, then you utter it aloud, 
but not before.’ I was just going to 
make use of my new friend’s infor- 
mation, when I had the most awful 
tumble and bump, I had ever known. 
The boy had tripped on something, and, 
stumbling, hurt his knee a little. His 
mother came rushing up to him, and, 
lifting him up, said : 'Why, my dear boy, 
what have you in your pocket?’ She 
then without a moment’s hesitation put 
her hand in and threw both Mr. Jelly- 
fish and myself on the sand. I have 
often wondered what became of the 
little boy and his mother. I imagined 


that the mother’s love, soon healed the 
little hurt on the knee, and they walked 
home together. I had not more than 
landed safely, before I peeked around, 
and saw Mr. Jelly-fish so many yards 
away from me that I could not make 
him hear, and I wanted to thank him, 
for his having so thoughtfully given me 
the 'password.’ A little breeze was 
passing, and I said to him, 'Mr. Breeze 
will you carry a message for me to Mr. 
Jelly-fish over there?’ Of course he 
said he would, because all nature, but 
man, follow the easiest way. Then I 
thought silently, but strongly of the 
'password,’ and lo! I found ntyself at 
the very bottom of the ocean. The color 
of the water was something exquisite. 
The fairy of the clam-shell world soon 
appeared before me. 'What is your 


wish?’ she said. 'Let me back to my 
friends, I pray you, for I have been a 
long while away from them, and my 
greatest joy is to be near those I love.’ 
No sooner had I made the wish than 
I found myself on the same beach upon 
which the little boy had found me, but 
lying on the wet sand close beside those 
I had longed to see again.” 

The big clam-shell heaved a deep 
sigh, and looking out to sea, remarked 
that the tide was rapidly approaching 
their quiet resting place. "We have 
formed such a happy quintette,” said he, 
"baby clam-shell was right; we do not 
want to be apart ; so I shall whisper you 
each the password; it is short, and 
easily remembered; and then, if we are 
washed out to sea and all separated, we 
may be able to meet again.” * * * 


W alking along on a sandy path, miles 
away from the sea, a young lady and 
gentleman were digging here and there, 
in the bare places between the poor 
growing grass. “This must be about 
the place, the books say, for we have 
followed the directions exactly,’' said 
the girl. “Yes,” the fellow replied, “it 
says just about here the sea used to 
wash the entire land for miles and 
miles, and many sea shells are to be 
found to prove it.” 

The girl soon gave one cry of delight, 
and ran to a spot not far away. She 
had discovered some shells. Five clam- 
shells, of different sizes, and all quietly 
lying close together, as though they had 
placed themselves there. 

“How amusing,” said the big clam- 
shell, “she thinks we are antique. I 


39 


just wish she had ears fine enough to 
hear me speak, she would then know 
how good the Fairy had been to us, 
after that enormous wave lashed us 
each far out to sea, and carried us 
miles apart. The Fairy in the big 
emerald basin, told us she would place 
us where no wave would wash us again, 
and yet we might lie in the sand to- 
gether. 

The girl and fellow walked away de- 
lighted at their discovery, and the five 
little clam-shells lived happily ever 
after. 


40 


TIP'S DELIGHT. 



“ Soon to his surprise "he saw Mr. Big Bug flying over him ” 

(See page 54.) 


Tip’s Delight. 

T IP was a dog who had a way of 
making every one love him. His 
mistress liked to show him off to all her 
friends. She was anxious to have Tip 
learn to dance. One day she said: ‘‘Tip, 
I must give you a dancing lesson, and 
you shall know more than any other 
dog about here.” Dear little Tip had 
been having a strange experience for 
several days past. He had taken a 
walk one day by himself into the woods, 
and while there had noticed a big bug 
looking like a butterfly come floating 
just over his head. Tip tried to jump 
up and catch it, when, to his surprise, 
the big bug laughed, and said: “Why, 


Tip, I am a fairy butterfly, and you are 
such a bright and good doggy, that, if 
you will follow what I say, you shall be 
the most wonderful dog in the world. 
Tip’s eyes beamed with delight, and he 
thought of how proud his mistress 
would be, if he could do all the big bug 
told him about. 

''You shall be able to sing, you shall 
turn somersaults, and you will be able 
to dance finer than any dog ever 
danced;” and Tip, who had heard his 
mistress tell him that she wanted him 
to learn how to dance, was overjoyed 
at the idea. , 

"Now listen,” said Mr. Bug, "if I or 
any of my friends ever come flying over 
you, remember, you must keep looking 
right at us, or you will lose all we will 
teach you; and you must never for any 


44 


reason tell anyone even your mistress, 
that you have seen us.” 

Poor Tip, this was sad indeed. He 
loved his mistress, and yet he longed to 
be taught so many wonderful things, 
and be the finest trained dog in the 
world. He put his head on one side, 
then slowly leaned it over to the other 
side, and tried to make up his mind 
whether he could really keep a secret 
from one he loved so dearly, if he were 
to gain so much by it; and then, too, he 
thought to himself, that to learn to 
dance would, after all, be giving a great 
deal of pleasure to his mistress. Thus 
he pondered, while the big bug kept 
saying: “You’ll be sorry if you don’t; 
we’ll teach you to dance so well.” Poor 
Tip! He so wanted to learn, yet he 
could not bring himself to keep a secret 


from his beloved mistress. Finally he 
put his tail between his legs, and hung 
his head way down to the ground, and 
very slowly refused the kind offer of 
Mr. Bug. 

As Tip walked slowly home, he 
thought to himself, that when his mis- 
tress did give him dancing lessons 
he would pay great attention and learn 
quickly, and then if he ever met Mr. 
Bug again, he could tell him that he 
learned any way. 

''Ah!’' thought Tip, when he reached 
home, and was sauntering along the 
broad piazza, where a tall screen stood 
at one corner, "how I wish I might 
have a lesson right here, behind this big 
screen, so that Mr. Bug might not spy 
me if he flew by.” 

He was tired after his long walk, and 

46 


Tip lay down in the shadow of the 
screen. He slept soundly, and dreamed 
a whole army of Mr. Big-bugs, were 
carrying him away. Tip awoke with a 
start, and looking up he saw his mistress 
standing over him. ^'Well, Tip,’’ she 
said, ''are you rested? I want to start 
your dancing lessons.” 

Tip was delighted, and at once sprang 
up and ran about with such glee, that 
his mistress laughed out loud, and said : 
"Come, now, sit down, just a moment; 
give me your paw, and then we’ll take 
our first lesson.” 

Tip obeyed beautifully, and when the 
first command came : "Stand up on your 
hind legs. Tip,” it was most difficult, as 
he had never tried before. Again and 
again the patient mistress tried to 
teach the very first step of her dancing 


47 


lesson to her pet dog, but poor Tip, fell 
over, or was not graceful enough. At 
last his mistress heaved a deep sigh and 
said : “Tip, Tip, what shall I do to teach 
you ? And I so wanted you to learn to 
dance 

At this moment, as Tip was gazing 
very sadly over the railing of the porch, 
he saw to his astonishment, Mr. Big- 
bug and two of his friends. ''Dear 
me!’’ thought Tip,"my dream is to come 
true, they have come to carry me away.’’ 
When to his surprise he heard Mr. Big- 
bug say in a very far-away voice, "Tip, 
meet me to-morrow at the same place 
in the woods, and I’ll give you another 
chance to accept my offer. Don’t men- 
tion, though, that you’ve seen us, for if 
you do. I’ll never teach you, and they 
would not believe you. Tip, because un- 

48 


less we wish it, no one can ever see ns” 

Tip stared and stared at Mr. Big-bug 
and his companions, and was too sur- 
prised to move. ''Hurry up,'^ said Mr. 
Big-bug, "we can’t wait long, give me 
your answer.” At this moment Tip’s 
mistress said in rather a loud voice, 
"Why, Tip, what’s the matter with you? 
You have not moved, and have kept 
staring so long, come right here, and we 
will go on with our lesson.” Poor Tip 
felt the utter uselessness in his trying 
ever to learn to dance from his mistress, 
and knowing how she longed to have him 
be a fine dancer, he quickly said "Yes, 
Mr. Big-Bug, I’ll meet you to-morrow 
in the woods.” 

As Tip turned and looked up, great 
tears were in his eyes, and he could not 
speak. "Why, Tip, what is the matter? 


49 


Have you hurt yourself, why do your 
eyes look so sad?’’ But Tip could only 
hang his head and feel worse than ever. 

That evening as Tip’s mistress sat on 
a sofa in the big sitting-room, she called 
her dog friend, and made him lie down 
beside her. Somehow she felt Tip’s 
feelings were hurt, and she wondered 
how she ever could teach him to dance. 

The next morning Tip ran off to the 
woods, and after that each morning saw 
him following the same path, about the 
same time. One day his mistress re- 
marked how regularly Tip wandered off 
to the woods, and thought she would 
follow him to know where he went. 
Quietly and slowly she stepped along 
the path, and gathered a wild rose here, 
and a buttercup there, and stood to 
listen to the birds chirp their lovely 

50 


musical notes, and wondered where her 
pet Tip, indeed, could have wandered to. 

The little walk led to a wide opening, 
under a large oak tree. Here, as she 
drew nearer, she saw Tip. What was 
her astonishment to see him going 
through all kinds of fancy steps, and 
turning somersaults, and doing all as 
lively and as easily, as though she had 
taught him since he was a little pup. 

She turned slowly back, and decided 
not to let Tip know she had seen him, 
but ask him some time if he did not 
want another dancing lesson. That 
evening Tip stood in front of a big 
mirror, and, cocking his head on one 
side then on the other, said to himself : 
''Well, Tip, you’re a pretty clever dog 
after all; how well you can perform 
now !” His mistress, entering the room. 


laughed aloud to see the airs of her pet 
dog, as he stood before the looking- 
glass. ‘'Now Tip,’’ said she, “will you 
take another dancing lesson?” 

Poor Tip had promised Mr. Big-bug 
not to dance for anyone, till he gave 
him permission. His mistress had sud- 
denly found him looking so pleased at 
himself in the glass, he knew he could 
not pretend being ill, and his heart sank, 
as he turned to look at her. Tip felt so 
bad in having made the promise, yet 
was so happy in learning something 
that would give her such joy in the end, 
that his mind was in one dreadful state 
of argument with himself. Great tears 
again came to his eyes, and he looked 
up so pleadingly, that his mistress said : 
“I understand. Tip; it’s all right; don’t 
worry; it will come out all right; I can 


52 


wait to have you explain. Come to me!” 

Poor Tip, felt worse than ever to have 
so kind a remark made him, after all his 
seeming stupidity and foolishness. The 
next morning Tip made up his mind to 
tell Mr. Big-bug that he had lessons 
enough, and that he wanted to go home 
and show his mistress all he could do. 

''But how will you explain to her 
where you learned?'’ asked Mr. Big- 
bug. "That's true," replied Tip, and a 
worried expression came over his face; 
he wrinkled his nose, stiffened his ears 
and his eyes seemed to implore Mr. Big- 
bug to help him. 

"Well," said the dancing-master, "I 
will make it all right for you, because 
you have been a faithful dog, learned 
your lessons well and kept our secret 
faithfully. When you go home, jump 

53 


tip about your mistress as though you 
had something to tell her, and then 
when she pets you, begin to dance for 
her. Tip, dance your very best, for you 
will be doing something for me too, 
though I can’t tell you what.” 

Tip walked very slowly through the 
woodland path toward home, wondering 
what Mr. Big-bug meant by saying, he, 
Tip, was to do something for Mr. Big- 
bug too. As Tip neared the house he 
saw his mistress sitting on the porch 
with a book in her hand. So glad was 
he to be able now to dance for her, that 
all his wonderment was lost, and the 
little dog ran with delight, jumped about 
her skirts in such a frantic manner, sIiq 
remarked: “Why, Tippy dear, what’s 
the matter ? Have you some good 
news?” At once Tip began to dance 


back and forth about the piazza, with 
such graceful and quick steps, that his 
mistress was indeed astonished. “Why, 
Tip, Tippy, my good dog, where have 
you learned? Who taught you? How 
did you ever know so much?” 

Tip kept on dancing and turning 
somersaults, glad to show off and not 
taking time even to rest. Soon to his 
surprise he saw Mr. Big-bug flying just 
over him in the air. He stopped at once, 
and looked at him with the desire of 
knowing how he could explain to his 
mistress their long- kept secret. 

Mr. Big-bug hovered down, and, 
perching himself on the edge of the rail- 
ing, began to speak. Tip’s mistress 
looked about and wondered where the 
voice came from. 

“Do not be frightened, dear lady,” 


55 


said Mr. Big-bug, ''if you will but just 
promise to do a little favor for me, I 
will show myself to you, and tell you 
how your bright little friend learned to 
dance so well.’' 

Tip’s mistress could hardly speak she 
was so surprised, and all the more so 
when she saw Tip scampering about her, 
so very overjoyed. 

"I want to see you, and I want to help 
.you,” said Tip’s mistress; "if it is not 
too difficult a task, I shall be glad to do 
anything for you.” With this Mr. Big- 
bug flew down on the porch right in 
front of the lady. "I seem but a big but- 
terfly-bug,” said he ; "but in reality I am 
a Fairy Prince who lives in the woods, 
and takes care of all the birds, and squir- 
rels, and insects, and snakes, and every 
living thing in the forest. A bad old 

56 


witch, who became jealous of my 
powers, one day while I was asleep, 
turned me into this Big-bug that I am, 
and everything in the forest hated me, 
and I had to go away to another wood. 
There I met your little Tippy, and I had 
always known if I could get a human 
being to tear my wings from my body, 
I should be freed, and again be the 
Fairy Prince. I should at once go to 
my beloved forest, and take care of all 
the creatures, great and small, that for 
so long I have been helping and teach- 
ing. Will you, kind lady, in return for 
my teaching your pet dog-friend how 
to dance so well, help me?’^ 

Tip's mistress felt a certain horror of 
touching this queer looking bug, and 
hated too the thought of hurting him. 
'T fear I shall make you suffer, Mr. 

57 


Big-bug/' she said. ‘'Never mind/’ he 
replied, “I know I shall be hurt, but I 
also know the great joy that awaits me. 
Ah! lady dear, will 3^ou not help me, 
even if you do hurt me?” He pleaded 
so hard and so sincerely, that she took 
courage and leaning forward took Mr. 
Big-bug up by the wings, and, closing 
her eyes, did as he had asked her to. 

At once she saw the most exquisite 
fairy all in delicate colors, surrounded 
by a light that seemed to surpass the 
sunlight. “Thank you a million times,” 
said the fairy, “I suffered, it is true, but 
for a moment, compared to the time I 
have now ahead of me. Tip, good-bye; 
be a good dog, and dance every day for 
your mistress. Good-bye, fair lady, you 
have gained by helping me — Good-bye, 
good-bye,” and with that he floated off 


in the air, and was soon out of sight. 
Tip’s mistress stood in silence, for some- 
how the exquisite Light of the Fairy 
Prince had left an unspeakable joy in 
her heart, and true it was she had 
gained by helping Mr. Big-Bug. 

Tip danced every day, and soon be- 
came so well known throughout the 
country for his wonderful tricks that he 
often used to say to himself : “It’s worth 
knowing how to keep a secret, after all.” 


59 



THE GOLDEN BALL. 



The Golden Ball. 

W E were at a big New York City 
hotel, Mar}^, Kathleen, and 1. 
We had just ordered luncheon, and the 
waiter seemed so long in bringing our 
order, that Mary said: “Mother, tell us 
a real fairy story/’ I laughed as I saw 
the dear little face, so anxious and 
happy, asking for such a favor just 
then. So, when I said, “All right, but 
it must be a short one,” Mary replied, 

62 


“Well, but make it true, mother dear!'" 

Kathleen was a little girl visitor that 
clay, and she had never been used to 
having fairies visit her as often as Mary 
and her mother had; so, when I began, 
her little face looked so wondering and 
then so happy, she clapped her hands 
and said, “Oh! Mary, if your mother 
only could make it really true \” And I 
really think some honest fairies must 
have inspired me that day, for I did 
make it come true, and I will tell you 
how. 

As we all three sat at the table, a 
window with a dainty curtain stood 
open, and a few green plants looked in, 
as if smiling at the people who live so 
much indoors. 

'‘Well,” I began, “once upon a time 
a great grandmother and her two little 
63 


grand daughters were seated at a table, 
just as we are sitting, and a little 
golden-winged fairy came flying in the 
window and perched itself right in the 
center of the table. 'What is your wish, 
little girls?’ he asked. 'Oh! we want a 
golden ball, to play with,’ said one, 'and 
a surprise in the middle of it,’ said the 
other. The little fairy flew away, and 
the great grandmother looked at the two 
little girls and said, 'I wonder if he will 
be back again !’ She had not more than 
said it when back flew the little fairy, 
and, placing a beautiful little golden ball 
upon the table, flew away. The children 
were delighted, and longed to see what 
was the surprise in the heart of it. 'I do 
hope it’s sugar,’ said one. 'I want a 
penny,’ said the other. So dear grand- 
mother told them they could open it 


carefully and see for themselves. Sure- 
ly enough, there in the center were two 
great lumps of sugar, and two bright 
pennies. The children were delighted, 
and 'just wished the fairy would come 
every day’.’’ 

Mary and Kathleen listened to the end 
of the story and begged me to make it 
‘'he true.'' “Well,” I said, “let us finish 
our luncheon, and then we will go up- 
stairs and play we are to hunt for the 
golden ball, and perhaps the fairy zvill 
have found you both such good little 
girls, that if you look hard enough you 
may find a golden ball, with a surprise 
in it too. When we all three went up- 
stairs, I made the children wait in the 
hall just a few moments and then said, 
“Ready!” 

They both dashed into the room. 

65 


Eyes as bright as diamonds, little voices 
screaming with delight, for they had 
perfect faith in my not fooling them, 
and they had not heard me say the fairy 
would not be there. ''Let us hunt 
every corner!’' said Mary. "Is’n’t it 
fun !” said Kathleen, laughing and 
running here and there all about the 
rooms. Soon I heard a yell of surprise 
and delight. "Here’s the golden ball! 
and see the fairy has cut it in two, and 
we’ll peep in and see if the surprise is 
really here I” What screams of joy I 
heard as two great lumps of sugar, and 
two bright pennies lay beneath the big 
half of a bright yellow orange. 


66 


THE WATER LILIES. 



“ Dorothy sat with her hat on.” (See page 6g.) 


The Water Lilies. 

D orothy sat with her hat on, 
ready for mother to take her 
out. As she waited she thought to her- 
self, ^Yhat was a beautiful story grand- 
ma told me about the water-lilies. I 
think ril have to repeat it to all my little 
friends, it was so lovely.” As she sat 
quiety, this is the story that Dorothy 
was thinking of : 

On a stream where the sun shone 
bright and warm, two pink water-lilies 
grew. One was hidden among the 
leaves, with a number of pretty white 
lilies too, but it often peeped at another 
big pink lily far away up the stream and 
wondered why they had grown such a 

69 


distance apart. The second pink water 
lily grew stately and tall, waving its 
beautiful leaves on the lap of the water 
when the winds blew, bending its long 
graceful neck. “Ah \’' said this lily, 
“why have I a stem that grows so far 
down in the mud, way beneath the sun- 
shine and light that I cannot float on 
the -stream to my friend, that I see hid- 
den among those leaves beyond?’’ The 
lilies would laugh gently at each other 
as the water bent their faces, and as the 
days passed they longed more and more 
to know each other better. 

One day, a little boy and a little girl 
were rowing along this stream, gaily 
chatting, and thinking it great fun to 
take the boat under the arching boughs 
along the bank. Beautiful bits of moss, 
branches of berries, long sprays of 


70 


leaves, and various trophies they gath- 
ered. Soon the little girl called out 
“Oh ! Look at that lovely pink lily, 
hidden beneath all those leaves ! Isn’t it 
a beauty! Let us get it!” The boy’s 
eyes beamed with delight, for a pink 
water-lily in the stream was rare indeed. 
He rowed swiftly, and found it difficult 
to stop the boat just in the right place. 
First they glided past it, then they went 
over it, then could not quite reach it; 
but, at last, slowly, carefully, the boat 
came alongside, and the little girl put 
her hand way down in the water and 
broke the stem off nice and long. 
“Hurrah! That’s a beauty!” and she 
laid it in the shade in the bottom of the 
boat. 

The pink water-lily said to itself, 
“Well, I can’t live long now, but I may 


71 


get over to my friend somehow; I do 
wish they’d row over there.” ^‘There is 
another bunch of lilies growing way up 
there,” said the little girl pointing beyond 
''let’s go and see if there are any more 
pink ones about.” The dear little flower 
in the bottom of the boat grew a deeper 
pink when it heard this, and longed still 
more for its companion. 

Steadily the oars dipped into the 
water. Quietly the little boat moved 
along. All nature seemed to have an 
air of joy and rest. The long deep re- 
flections by the banks, the brilliant glints 
of sunshine through the leaves, and here 
and there a bird’s note surprised them; 
the children were delighted, and once 
in a while rested the oars just to listen 
to the silence about them. Soon they 
neared the water-lilies, and again came 


the joy of discovering a pink one. “This 
one is larger than the other/' said the 
boy. “Yes, look at the deep pink of the 
petals," answered the girl. The lily 
longed for them to pick it, for it had 
noticed that the other one had been 
gathered by them, and wished to get 
into the boat too, then it would be nearer 
its friend. After reaching and rowing- 
back and forth the boy managed to pluck 
the beautiful flower, and he laid it under 
the seat in the shadow. “How glad I 
am they took us both," said one lily, 
“ah ! if I could but whisper to you how 
I have loved you, I should be willing to 
die," replied the other. “We are so far 
away here in the bottom of the boat," 
said the first lily, “I fear the children 
may hear us talk; we must be careful 
and wait." 


73 


By this time the young oarsman had 
brought his boat once more to the edge 
of the stream, and every now and then 
the chidren would have to bend their 
heads to row beneath the low branches. 
“Look,’' said the boy, “a large oriole’s 
nest is hanging from that old tree on 
the bank. Let us go out and see if 
there are any birds in it!” The little 
girl was delighted to go, and as the boat 
was guided to a place near shore she 
stooped and picking up the pink lily at 
her feet stuck it in her dress, saying: “I 
am going to take my flower with me, for 
I hate to leave it behind.” The boy 
laughed and said: “Well, see, I shall 
have mine as a button-hole bouquet; 
doesn’t that look fine?” The little girl 
laughed, and stepping out of the boat 
ran up to where the nest hung. They 


74 


both took turns in peeping into the nest, 
so low did it hang from the branch. 
They discovered the dearest little baby 
birds, and hurried off to a great stone 
that was near, that they might watch 
till the parent birds came back. They 
had not long to wait. A fluttering ot 
wings and a sweet little note, told them 
what was there. The children were so 
happy, and feared lest they should 
frighten the birds away; they sat very 
close and as still as could be. The two 
beautiful pink water-lilies were at last 
content. As the boy and girl leaned 
together whispering their glad surprise, 
the flowers’ petals were close and they 
told of their happiness which they had 
hoped to do so long. “When a dark 
thunder shower came,” said the larger 
water-lily, “I used to wonder if Td spy 


75 


you again when it cleared away, be- 
cause I feared the rush of the stream 
might bend your graceful stem too far, 
and you would break beneath the tor- 
rent/^ ''Ah!’’ replied the other, "I too 
have often wondered if the beautiful 
months of summer would pass by with- 
out my reaching you somehow, I so 
longed to tell you what I have been 
thinking and dreaming as I lay on the 
water.” 

The boy and girl by and by rowed 
home again and they placed their beauti- 
ful pink water-lilies in a vase together. 

Dorothy had finished this story 
grandma had told her, and still sat 
thinking how happy she was the two 
lilies met, when her mother called : 
"Dorothy dear. I’m ready; where are 
you child?” 


76 


THE BUTTERFLIES’ SURPRISE. 



“ They climbed over a big stone wall.” 


The Butterflies’ Surprise. 

L ittle Mary and her mother went 
out for a long walk through the 
woods. She was only five years old, 
but such a sturdy strong girl, that her 
mother could take her a long distance. 
They climbed over a big stone wall, and 
left the fields. Reaching a beautiful 
entrance to the woods they so loved to 
go through, a little walk brought them 
to a rock, where they often had sat 
down to rest before. As soon as they 
were seated, a strange noise was heard, 
and Mary’s mother listened and said: 
“Hark, little one, I hear some sweet 
music!” She looked all about her, but 
saw no one. At last, perched on a 


79 


branch of a tree, they saw a wee fairy 
singing: 

''Oh, come with me, come with me 
Right merrily, right merrily. 

And listen to the music of the fairies/’ 

Mary’s mother said, "Well, little 
Fairy, will you let us go to hear that 
pretty music?” 

The little girl’s eyes danced with glee 
as she saw the fairy walking toward 
them. When reaching the big rock the 
little fairy said: "If you will follow the 
way I go I will show you the most beau- 
tiful flower garden you’ve ever seen, 
and let you hear the most exquisite 
music.” 

Mary clapped her hands and ran 
alongside of her mother, as they fol- 
lowed in the path the fairy showed 
them. Soon they came to an open 

8o 


field and never had there been a more 
wonderful array of flowers. They 
seemed to be growing in long lines of 
color, the entire field being like a liv- 
ing rainbow. 

The gentle zephyrs came slowly 
across the field waving the broad bands 
of violet, indigo blue, green, yellow, 
orange, and red. And, as the breeze 
bent the heads of the little flowers, the 
light colors gave forth such tender 
sweet notes growing, toward the darker 
shades, into mellow, deep, resonant 
tones that the whole field was like the 
most glorious harmony. How little 
Mary laughed aloud when she saw the 
tiny blue-bells bend their heads and 
ring out such pretty music. The morn- 
ing-glories seemed almost to sing their 
part as the notes rippled from their 


long graceful throats so joyously, 

How the '']2icqut roses’" waved out 
their organ-like sounds — deep, rich, 
and as luscious as their color. 

The deep-eyed violets struck a note 
of tenderness which vibrated as a 
strain of love through the air. An 
ocean of color and sound. Little Mary 
and her mother were fascinated. 

They had not realized how long they 
had been listening to the music, when 
the Fairy came to them and said: 'Tt 
is near the hour of sunset, and no 
human being has ever heard the fairy- 
music at that hour; you must bid us 
good-b3^e.” 

After bidding adieu, Mary and her 
mother walked again toward the en- 
trance of the wood, and was about to 
hurry toward home, when they noticed 

82 


a long golden thread of light floating 
in the air before them. 

Walking nearer, what was their sur- 
prise to find the golden thread a long 
line of yellow butterflies. The leader 
was a splendid big fellow, and when 
passing little Mary flew upon her 
shoulder, and whispered in her ear. 
Mary looked up to her mother and 
said: ''Oh, Mother, may I?’’ "What, 
little one?” "Why, the big butterfly 
wants us to go to Sunset land. Oh, 
Mother, may we?” 

Now Mary and her mother had often 
sat on their piazza at home, and looked 
at the sky during the sunset hour. 
What glorious clouds they had seen! 
How often they had noticed strange 
shapes and figures when the clouds 
formed themselves into castles, big 
83 


lions, and bears ; or a ship sailing along 
on a golden sea ! 

So, to-day, when the Big Butterfly 
invited them both to visit this beauiful 
land, Mary’s mother could not say no, 
but longed to get there as quickly as 
they could. 

The Big Butterfly heard with delight 
that they would go with him, “for” said 
he, “I so often want to show the land 
of dreams, the sunset land.” 

Soon the long line of butterflies had 
massed themselves into a broad circle, 
and let their wings so unite that Mary’s 
mother and herself were now being- 
carried through the air very quickly. 

On and on they went, with the Big- 
Butterfly leading the way. Soon Mary 
said, “What is the pink water over 
there?” and as her mother looked in 

84 


the direction, she could see they were 
on the edge of a beautiful cloud that 
was filled with water, and colored pink 
by the sun’s rays — on and on they went 
till the butterflies left them seated on a 
high turret, and the Big Butterfly 
hovered near, saying, “I shall be back 
to return you home safely; never fear; 
nothing will harm you.” With that, he 
flew away, and the little girl and her 
mother gazed far and near. First they 
realized they were in one of the beauti- 
ful castles they had seen from their 
own front porch. 

Looking around they saw curiously 
shaped flowers growing about them. 
Suddenly a great lion came walking by, 
and invited them for a ride. And such 
a ride they had! They felt they were 
flying, so fast they went. Soon a big 
85 


Indian with his canoe offered them a 
sail and as they entered the boat, they 
felt themselves again floating along in 
the air like a bird. 

By and by another castle was reach- 
ed; this time it was built of very dark 
material, and they could see great 
flames of fire sweeping around them 
outside. They were gazing in astonish- 
ment at the many beautiful shapes and 
figures that were continually passing, 
when the Big Butterfly came and said: 
"'My comrades are here, you must bid 
the sunset land good-night.’’ 

With this the butterfly circle again 
reached them, and a great light seemed 
to encircle them. It began to become 
dim, and darkness stole upon them. 

"Sweetheart, wake up, darling!” 

86 


These words Mary’s mother said out 
loud as she touched her little girl on 
the shoulder. 

As Mary’s eyes opened she said: 
“Where are we, mother.?” Why, dar- 
ling, we both have been asleep, right 
under the big trees, and what a lovely 
time we’ve had. I have been off with 
my darling to the land of sunsets,” and 
then little Mary jumped up and throw- 
ing her arms about her mother’s neck, 
whispered, “Mother, we were together 
for you were with me in a big, big 
castle.” As the little girl walked home 
by her mother’s side they both filled in 
the story of their visit to the sunset 
land, and I think they were together 
all the way, even as they walked out to 
those woods and sat down on the big 
stone where they first met the Fairy. 



YANA YOHI 
AND 

THE FAIRY MOUNTAIN. 


/ 



Yana Yohi and the Fairy Mountain. 

Y ana yohi, was a Japanese boy 
who lived where the great Fuji- 
yama mountain raised its big white 
head way up toward the sky. The 
bridges, and houses, and flowers, and 
the people and their dress, were all very 
different from what we see about us 
here in America. Yet Yana Yohi would 
think the houses and people and flowers 
and all of our ways very strange to him. 

One night Yana’s mother heard 
some one say that the great Fujiyama 
was very angry, and that the town they 
lived in was to be buried beneath lava 
and ashes that very night. Now 
Yana’s father owned a big row boat. 


91 


and used to carry people across the lake 
as a ferryman. As soon as Yana's 
father heard this sad news he ran out 
to his boat and began helping all those 
he possibly could to leave the town and 
get to the other side of the lake. 
Yana’s mother and himself were quick- 
ly landed, and they watched the crowds 
all hastening to safety as fast as they 
could. Very soon a rumbling and 
grumbling filled the air, and Yana and 
his mother saw great flames come 
bursting from the top of Fujiyama. A 
wind blew the smoke and long tongues 
of fire could be seen mounting upwards, 
as if to reach the sky. 

Little Yana cuddled close to his 
mother, and felt that, when her arms 
were tightly about him, nothing could 
hurt him. Soon one set of buildings 


92 


after another were set on fire, the flames 
crept over the bridges, and now and 
again a terrible noise would tremble 
through the air, as a building fell, or 
an explosion took place. The bright 
pink light overspread everything, and 
made a most wonderful sight. Yana’s 
father found him and his mother, and 
as they, with many of their friends, all 
sat huddling close together, watched 
the angry mountain. Yana heard a 
hissing. 

He looked up to his mother’s face, 
as if to ask the meaning of the noise so 
near to them. “What is it little one?” 
she inquired. “The noise, like a great 
hiss, don’t you hear it?” replied Yana. 
“No ! no ! little one, you are alarmed and 
only think you hear such sounds.” 

But Yana crept from his mother’s 


93 


knee, and looked about him. He walk- 
ed nearer the edge of the lake, and soon 
spied a large snake, making the hissing 
noise he had heard. A funny little 
fairy all dressed in light green was 
straddling the snake’s back, and, seeing 
Yana, said: ^^There is a wonderful fire 
world in the mouth of Fujiyama, I can 
take you to it; would you like to go?” 
“But I might be burned, and my 
parents would worry where I had 
gone,” said wise little Yana. “Ah! no,” 
answered the fairy, “they will not know 
you’ve gone, and I will bring you back 
all safely. Jump on the snake’s back 
and give me your hand.” 

Little Yana longed to really see the 
inside of this fiery old mountain and 
wondered at the surprises he, would 
have to tell his mother and father when 


94 


he got back again. Quick as a wink he 
found himself going through the water 
on the back of the snake. How strange 
it was, yet how lovely to feel the soft 
cool water glide past him ! What beau- 
tiful fish he saw, and how odd their eyes 
looked peering at him! What bright 
seaweeds and grasses he passed all 
waving in the water! Another most 
beautiful world was awakened to him 
indeed! Soon, as they came nearer the 
opposite shore a brilliant light shone 
about them, and Yana realized the big 
mountain must be near, to throw so 
powerful a light into the water. 

The snake, in a few seconds, landed 
on the shore, and the bright little green 
fairy, bidding good-bye to the old snake, 
took Yana by the hand, and they seemed 
to actually fly through the air. Under 

95 


them were the houses, now in ruins, he 
had so often played near, bridges he had 
walked over, now burned away, every- 
thing being destroyed. 

Higher and higher Yana and the 
fairy flew, soon it was so light the little 
boy had to put his hand before his eyes 
to see what he was coming to. The big 
flames no longer seemed like tongues of 
fire. They were gorgeous curtains 
which were dancing up and down, back 
and forth, and were filled with little 
green fairies, looking like the little 
friend he was traveling with. They all 
beckoned to him to hurry, and rushed 
Yana through the awful heat and fury 
to the very inside of terrible Fujiyama. 
What was Yana Yohi's surprise to find 
here a circle of great gaping mouths, 
all spitting fire, lava, and fearful fumes! 


The monsters seemed to vie with 
each other in pouring out the largest 
volume of fire. Suddenly a silence 
reigned, and Yana begged the green 
fairies to tell him how these monsters 
came there. said the little elf 

who had brought Yana, “men do not 
know what laws really are, you must see 
how much there is to discover now, and 
think it over by and by.’^ With this 
Yana heard a low long growl, and the 
great monsters opened their mouths 
again and commenced belching forth 
fire. The green fairies had escaped 
with the flames, and Yana now found 
his little guide taking him through a 
dark hole that was at one side. He 
could see nothing, but had a strange 
sense of being filled with air and as if 
he were floating like a balloon. He was 


97 


suddenly looking at green revolving 
globes, great whirling masses of brill- 
iant light. He felt himself in the dark, 
yet knew he could see these strange 
shapes about him. As he watched he 
remarked how several of the globes 
would float toward each other and make 
a deafening noise as they approached. 
“Ah! fairy friend,’’ cried brave little 
Yana Yohi, “take me from all this, I 
fear we shall die.” At this the fairy 
put her hand over his eyes, audio! Yana 
found himself again on the snake’s back 
rushing through the water. How he 
longed to catch some of the beautiful 
golden fish he saw, and the queer little 
turtles with shiny backs, swimming so 
quickly past him ! But he found himself 
too soon landed at the shore, and as he 
saw the old snake crawl lazily through 

98 


the grass, he thought to himself, 'Well, 
I wonder if mother will guess where 
Tve been all this time,’’ and he threw a 
kiss to the green fairy, laughed over at 
the snake, and ran to where his mother 
sat, just where he had left her. "My 
darling boy,” she said, "I see your 
father coming on the last trip over, and 
we will go and meet him, how brave he 
has been.” 

Yana Yohi could not but feel aston- 
ished when his mother did not even ask 
about his absence. Could she have been 
asleep ? Could the fairy have made her 
think that he had not left her side? It 
certainly was strange. Just then 
Yana’s father reached the shore, and, 
helping all his passengers out, he kissed 
his good wife and dear little boy, and 
said : "Ah, loved ones, I am glad I have 


L.OFC. 


99 


you both safe, old Fujiyama is awful 
indeed, to-night, and the people say that 
the monsters that live in the volcano’s 
mouth must be very angry at some- 
thing, for even the fairies are about 
trying to protect the good souls they 
love so dearly.” Little Yohi listened 
and thought what he had seen was true, 
and when he and his mother were alone 
again, he’d tell her all he had seen. 


100 


HELEN’S SURPRISE. 



She saw a long ray of light.” (See page 107.) 


Helen’s Surprise. 

A LITTLE girl of five summers, with 
such fat and rosy cheeks that 
she made people good natured when 
looking at her, sat in a big open field. 
Helen was the name of this little girl, 
but she was called by so many nick- 
names that she once said to herself, “I 
wonder when I grow big, if Til be as 
many people as I am now, for then Til 
have to be so big.” 

As Helen sat among the grasses and 
clover, that reached nearly to the top 
of her head, the wind gently waving 
them to and fro, she noticed a very tall 
grass that seemed to nod ''How do you 
do,” to a beautiful pink clover. Little 


103 


Helen sat very still and, listening, 
heard the tall grass whisper to the 
clover, ''Won't we all have a good time? 
I hope it don’t rain.” 

Little Helen wondered what was 
going to happen, and sat so quietly 
that even the tall grass and pretty 
pink clover forgot she was there. Then 
such a laugh she heard burst all about 
her, as the wind bent their graceful 
heads. Soon a general chattering was 
heard and little Helen found out that 
the grasses and clover expected a fairy 
party the very next morning at sunrise. 
"Oh, what fun!” thought the little girl, 
"I so want to meet the fairies, I shall 
come over here.” 

That night Helen’s mother wondered 
why her little daughter was ready to 
go to bed so promptly, and why she 


104 


asked, '‘What is sunrise time?” All 
night the little girl slept quietly, but 
dreamed that she woke too late to find 
the fairies. Suddenly she gave a jump 
in her little bed, and sat up rubbing her 
eyes. She slid quietly out on the 
floor, peeped beneath the window shade, 
and saw it was light. Running to her 
mother's room, which connected with 
her own, she saw she was fast asleep. 
Quickly she put on her shoes and stock- 
ings, and, though she got the laces of 
her shoes all in knots in her haste, it 
did not worry her, for she feared she 
would be too late to see the fairy-party. 
At last she got on her clothes the best 
she could; her dress she put on back to 
front, “cause I can't button it right,'' 
she said to herself. 

When she was all ready she went on 


105 


tip-toe to her mother’s room, and took 
a shawl which lay on a chair, and, hur- 
rying out to the hall-way, put it all 
around her, “to hide me from the 
fairies,” she whispered to herself. 
When Helen reached the front door she 
suddenly remembered she was too little 
to turn the heavy key that locked the old 
fashioned house at night. She was just 
about to sit down on the stairs and cry, 
when she heard a sound, and, looking 
into the library, saw their big black cat 
“Tom” jump out on the piazza. Some- 
body had been careless and left a win- 
dow open. Her round little face beam- 
ed out of the shawl, as she again 
thought of the fairies. Soon the piazza 
was reached, and, silently and hastily 
across the road to her pet field, she 
went where the tallest grasses grew, and 

io6 


covering herself all up with the big 
shawl, leaving only room enough for 
two eyes to peep out, she sat filled with 
excitement, hoping it was not too late 
to see the fairies. 

Soon she felt a little breeze pass her, 
and the nodding grasses waving their 
heads say: “They are late.’’ Listening 
intently she overheard a buttercup 
whisper: “I wonder if that’s they?” 
And turning her eyes in the direction 
they spoke, she saw far away across 
the field a long ray of light. Watch- 
ing it with eager attention she saw it 
come nearer and nearer. Soon she dis- 
covered the ray of light was made up of 
shining fairies’ wings. Hardly could 
she sit still, so excited was she. Her 
breath came faster and she held the 
shawl tightly, for fear they might see 

107 


her, and might fly away out of sight. 

The clovers and grasses were wav- 
ing and laughing with glee. The little 
fairies were all now settling themselves 
in a circle, and the pretty lights which 
came from their wings seemed like 
bright ribbons floating in the field. 

The Queen of the fairies, who was 
seated on the very tallest grass about 
them, stood up and, calling another 
fairy to her, sent her on an errand. 
Helen wondered where she could be 
going to; and what was her surprise 
when she saw the fairy messenger fly- 
ing straight toward herself. 

Lighting on the shawl the little fairy 
said in the sweetest fairy voice, ''Little 
girl, our Queen has sent for you; you 
need not hide any more ; she has noticed 
you were here, and knows what a good 

io8 


little girl you try to be, and is going to 
let you have a beautiful surprise.” 
Helen threw the shawl away, and ran 
quickly to the ring of fairies. The 
Qneen welcomed her and told her to be 
seated in the midst of their circle. 

Soon Helen heard the loveliest music, 
and looked to see where it came from. 
The wings of the fairies were all flut- 
tering in unison, and the music was so 
tender and sweet, only fairies could 
have made it. After the music ceased, 
the Queen again stood up and told all 
the fairies to go to each little grass and 
clover blossom and give them an extra 
drop of dew, and to whisper to every 
one that the sunshine would sparkle a 
merry joke to each of them as it came 
to drink up the dew. 

When the fairies were flying all over 


the fields, the Queen of the fairies turn- 
ed to Helen and said: “Little girl, I am 
going to give you a little package of 
fern seed which will take you home 
safely by wishing to be there, and no 
one will know you ran away. Helen’s 
big blue eyes opened so wide and her 
sunburned cheeks became a bright red, 
so happy and excited she felt to hear 
what the fairy Queen was saying. 

The fairies soon came flying back and 
formed the fairy circle once more. This 
time each one had a little lump of honey 
which they presented to the Queen, 
bowing in true fairy fashion as they 
presented it; then they all rose, and, 
following the Queen, floated off in the 
beautiful ray of light Helen had seen 
them arrive in. She watched them out 
of sight, and burst out laughing with 

no 


merriment, to think she had really seen 
the fairies. Looking around for- the 
shawl, she was just about to pull it up 
off the ground, when she thought of her 
fern seed, and, wishing it might take 
her and the shawl back to her room 
safely, she opened her eyes and saw her 
mother standing over her bed. 

‘'Oh, mother,’’ said Helen, “I am 
just back from a visit to the fairies. I 
had such a lovely time.” 

Her mother gave her a big kiss, and 
said, “What a dear little girl I’ve got 
to dream of the fairies!” But Helen 
laughed and said, “No, no, mother, I 
really have seen the Queen of fairy- 
land.” 


Ill 


« 



THE GOLDEN ROD FAIRY. 



The Golden Rod Fairy. 

W AVING back and forth, as the 
breezes bent its long golden 
head, a tall, stately piece of golden-rod 
stood. 

Perched on the top of it, a grass, for 

114 


a wand, a fairy was singing. At the 
other end of the field a little boy with a 
large sun hat on, was looking about him 
as though he expected some one. 

Soon out of the earth from a hole 
about six inches wide, a little toad hoo- 
ped, all covered with dirt. He shook 
himself, and looked up at the boy as 
much as to say, ^Well, Henry, you are 
here ahead of me.’’ 

Some days before this, little Henry 
had been eating a big apple under the 
same tree, and all of a sudden he saw 
a toad jump down into a hole in the 
ground. He hurried to look after him, 
but the toad was gone. The next day 
he came again and watched that hole, 
to see if the dusty fellow would again 
appear. Soon his delight knew no 
bounds, for the toad came hopping 


along and, standing in front of him, 
said, “Henry, do you know the land 
where I live?” Little Henry, of course, 
said “no,” and asked if he could not go 
with him to see where his home was. 
“There’s a fairy that guards our land,” 
said the little Brown Toad, and I shall 
have to ask her permission before taking 
you there. Meet me to-morrow about 
this time, and I’ll let you know the 
fairy’s answer.” 

Thus it was that Henry had come, 
this bright morning, to meet the toad, 
and ask him what the fairy had said. 

Henry sat upon the ground, and his 
little friend from the dirt shook him- 
self, threw his head on one side, rolled 
his eyes, and gave a satisfied hop, as 
though to settle himself for the good 
news he was to give. “Tell me, tell 


me quickly, Mr. Toad,'’ said Henry, 
“What does your Fairy say?” “She 
sent word if you could find her in the 
golden-rod at the other end of the field, 
she would arrange for you to go with 
me to Toad Land.” 

Henry jumped up, and said, “Good- 
bye, Mr. Toad, “Til find her now, and 
then we will be able to go right away to- 
gether. “Til meet you here under the 
apple tree.” 

Soon a little boy was seen running 
across the field to the corner where the 
golden-rod grew thickest. The wind 
took his hat and played awhile with it 
before letting it rest on a soft bed of 
clover; but Henry never waited, only 
speeding along to the bright yellow 
flowers. He halted when reaching the 
first tall sprays of the waving blossoms, 


and, putting his hand up to shade his 
eyes from the brilliant sun, he gazed 
over the great mass of gold that waved 
before him. He could see no fairy, and 
wondered if the little Brown Toad was 
fooling him. 

Quickly he ran where some very tall 
golden-rod grew and, kneeling down 
began to look closely at each stem. 
He saw two very tiny bright eyes laugh- 
ing at him, and, gazing longer, discover- 
ed such a wee little person, all dressed 
in gold, that he wondered if that really 
could be the fairy he was looking for. 
He had not time to run away or to ask 
her who she was, for she flew down on 
his shoulder and whispered in his ear; 
“Henry, I hear you want to see the land 
I am Queen of — the land of the little 
Brown Toads.’’ The little boy was so 


pleased and surprised that he could not 
speak, but smiled and shook his head. 

“Well, child, the fairy continued, you 
see that toads are one of the most use- 
ful animals in fairy land, and we always 
take the greatest care of them. I am 
Queen of the Toad Land now, and can 
let you have a wonderful experience, if 
you will mind me for just a few min- 
utes.’’ Little Henry so wished to see 
where Mr. Brown Toad lived that he 
said, “Yes, Fairy Queen, I will mind 
you indeed.” Then the long grass was 
raised in the little Fairy’s hand, and 
Henry was told to lie down. The grass 
wand he felt whipping him all over. 
Such tiny little pats and hits, he nearly 
laughed aloud to see what the Fairy was 
doing. 

Very soon he began to notice that he 


could not see as many golden-rod stalks 
as he had, and that he could see the 
fairy much oftener, and felt the grass 
pats much more severely. The Queen 
took a broad blade of grass that had 
a large drop of dew still upon it, and, 
holding it up before Henry, asked him 
how he looked. “Why, fairy, how very 
small I am! How will I ever get back 
to my mother 

“You are now ready for Toad Land,*' 
remarked the fairy, paying absolutely 
no attention to the last part of Henry’s 
sentence. 

I>onging to meet Mr. Toad again that 
he might ask him some questions, and 
yet fearing to displease the Queen of 
Toad Land, the little boy did not know 
whether to laugh or cry. The Queen, 
however, very soon took his fears away 


120 


by telling him to crawl up on her 
shoulders, as she was to fly over now to 
see Mr. Toad. Such a strange ride 
Henry had ! So small was he that 
he could have stood in his mother’s 
thimble, and all the bugs and butter- 
flies and strange sights he saw as he so 
swiftly went through the golden rod 
field, filled him with delight. 

Reaching the hole where Mr. Toad 
lived, the Queen told Henry he could 
climb down on the ground. How 
strange everything seemed ! Henry 
sincerely hoped no person would chance 
to walk over there to get an apple, for 
he felt he certainly would be crushed if 
people’s feet came too near. Looking 
for Mr. Toad, he saw what to him now 
seemed a giant toad, and that, instead 
of paying any attention to him, he bow- 


ed and hopped and hopped and bowed 
before the Fairy Queen, till the little 
Queen raised her grass wand and said, 
^‘Mr. Toad, I have brought you your 
little friend Henry, who may now go 
with you and see the wonders of Toad 
Land. I shall return to my throne in 
the golden-rod and when you come back, 
hop over to me and I will do as you com- 
mand, for you will know if Henry minds 
you well or not.’’ 

These words the little boy could not 
quite understand, but felt he would try 
his best to do whatever Mr. Toad told 
him. “Hop on my back,” said Mr. 
Toad, and little Henry crept up the best 
he could and straddled the back of Mr. 
Toad. “Ah! now what a good time we 
will have! How fine it will be to show 
you my own home !” said the toad, as he 


122 


started by a single hop down the hole 
Henry had first seen him come out of. 

A long winding passage led into a 
large room which was very brilliant 
with red lights. Henry saw a great 
many big green toads, and as their eyes 
rolled back and forth fine flashes of light 
came from them. “Hello, Mr. Brown 
Toad,’' said one of the green fellows 
near the door,“Whom have you brought 
to visit us now?" “A little friend of 
mine who has longed to see the wonders 
of Toad Land," Henry could hear the 
Brown Toad remark. At that the big- 
gest Green Toad in the crowd hopped 
down from his high seat and called 
Henry to him. “So you, my little man, 
wanted to visit us. Well, here is a key 
which will let you open three doors at 
the other end of a long hall which leads 


from this room. All of the frog’s have 
not yet decided to make a visit to the 
sunshine and upper earth. Go, and tell 
me when you return what you have 
learned. 

Henry caught a reflection of himself 
from a large crystal-like substance that 
was stuck in the wall. ‘'What shall I 
do if I never grow big again?’' thought 
he, “and yet what fun I’d have hiding 
in father’s pocket, and going to work 
with him, and he not knowing it. Then 
mother could take me everywhere. 
What fun I’d have!” His reflections 
were interrupted by Mr. Brown Toad’s 
hurrying him along to the passage way 
which led out of the room they were in, 
to the three doors. “Mr. Brown Toad,” 
called Henry, “I can’t run as fast as you 
hop ; do let me crawl on your back 


124 


again/’ So the little toad stopped and 
took him on his back, and hopped along 
as fast as ever he could go. Soon as 
they reached the end of their path, three 
little doors, one white, one deep blue, 
and one green stood before them. 
“Which will you enter first?” asked Mr. 
Brown Toad. “Oh! Til just peep into 
that lovely green one,” said Henry. 
Then taking the little key which the big 
Green Toad had given him, he put it 
into the key hole and the little door slid 
back as though it were on a spring. 
Here Henry was surprised to find a 
mass of tiny steps going in all direc- 
tions. How nimbly he could run up 
and down them, and how the little Mr. 
Brown Toad laughed to see him enjoy- 
ing these many winding stairways. 
“Why,” said Henry, “where am I going 

125 


to? What do all these funny little steps 
mean?’' ‘^'Hurry up, and you will see. 
They only seem long to you because you 
can’t hop,” said the Toad; ^'we always 
take five or six steps at once. 

Henry persevered until he reached 
the highest step, and then to his delight 
saw a platform where he could stand, 
with a tiny seat to rest upon. The little 
Brown Toad, with a few hops, came and 
sat beside him, saying: “Well, little boy, 
you are seeing what few little boys have 
ever seen.” 

As they looked before them a white 
curtain seemed to spread itself, and 
still gazing, they saw passing on the 
curtain screen the funniest scenes of 
little and big toads playing circus. 
Henry laughed out loud and Mr. Brown 
Toad rolled his eyes to such a degree, 

126 


Henry thought they surely would drop 
out. After the toads on the screen, like 
magic lantern pictures, passed by, Mr. 
Brown Toad said, ''Now, little boy, we 
must hurry up if we want to see what 
is in the other two doors your little key 
unlocks, and more of Toad Land, before 
we must return to our Queen in the 
golden-rod field.'’ 

Henry found he could skip down the 
stairs much faster than he went up, and, 
reaching the bottom, ran to the second 
door to put his little key in the lock. 

What a lovely blue! It seemed to 
shine like a sapphire. The little key 
fitted easily, and it flew open as if it 
were so glad to have a little boy from 
the upper earth come down to visit the 
Toad Land. A long, narrow blue light 
like a ribbon started from the door, and 


127 


disappeared in the distance. Mr. 
Brown Toad said, “Don’t lose a 
moment; we must follow this blue path, 
and such a great surprise at the end of 
our journey!” Henry ran as fast as he 
could, and once more he called Mr. 
Brown Toad to take him on his back, 
for he was so anxious to get to the end 
of the little blue lane. Hop and a jump, 
hop and a jump, and how fast Henry 
felt he was going; he seemed to feel he 
was on a see-saw, such funny little 
jumps the little toad made. Soon the 
blue-ribbon light began to broaden and 
Henry saw a big pool of blue water, it 
was like a lake to him, and the frogs 
were having the greatest fun diving 
into the water and bringing out “sur- 
prises” — sometimes a toy to play with, 
sometimes a dainty to eat, and again 


some little carriage or wagon, to which 
they would harness each other, and run 
off for a ride, and perhaps have races, 
which many of the frogs would watch 
and laugh over. 

Soon a big Black Frog suggested 
that Henry get into one little carriage 
and Mr. Brown Toad into another and 
have a race. The winner should re- 
ceive as a present the very next ''sur- 
prise’’ drawn from the lake. Henry 
was delighted, and harnessed two of the 
cunningest little toads you ever saw to 
his carriage. Mr. Brown Toad got one 
very pretty little yellow-eyed toad, and 
when they were all ready, a big Black 
Frog with green eyes was to splash into 
the water, and be the signal for the 
start. "One, two, three! splash!” and 
off went the race. Mr. Brown Toad’s 


129 


toad hopped and hopped. How fast he 
went ! Little Henry's team kept a 
steady pace, and yet they only just were 
in reach of Mr. Brown Toad’s carriage. 
The little toads and frogs all croaked 
and squeaked and laughed, and jumped 
into the pool, splashing and making the 
water sparkle with big drops dancing 
about. Such excitement ! The little 
carriages were now turning. Henry 
was getting nearer and nearer Mr. 
Brown Toad’s pace. They were very 
close to the pool, and Mr. Black Frog 
was hopping with such antics that he 
almost lost sight of the finish, when 
Henry’s two dear little toads had gone 
so fast they out-hopped Mr. Brown 
Toad’s wagon, and won the race for 
Henry. 

Mr. Big Black Frog jumped quickly 


into the blue lake and brought back a 
very pretty little ring. This he pre- 
sented to Henry and told him he could 
make one wish that would surely come 
true, but to be careful not to lose the 
ring. 

Mr. Brown Toad now said to Henry 
they had been there much longer than 
they expected, and must again hurry, 
if he would enter the third and lovely 
white door. Back they went. Mr. 
Brown Toad never hopped with such 
agility. He had become so fond of ids 
little companion, that he hated the 
thought of letting him leave him. 

Standing before the white door, so 
pure and like a crystal, Henry could see 
his reflection, and laughed to see the 
size of himself. At first he had almost 
felt afraid, when he knew he was so 


tiny, but now it seemed as if he would 
like to stay a long time with Mr. 
Brown Toad, and see more and more 
of his strange land. He did not have 
time to think very much, as the little 
key he was fitting into the door turned 
the lock, and once again the door flew 
open. How lovely a sight! Surely 
this could not belong to Toad Land! 
Long diamond stones hung from the 
ceiling, shimmering exquisite colors, 
and the ground was covered with a 
silvery dust, and lovely star-like flowers 
seemed to spring up everywhere. 
Henry could see the tiniest little toads 
and frogs, and of such a beautiful 
color ! He stood still a moment to look 
at the lovely scene. ^'Why, Mr. Brown 
Toad,'’’ he asked, ‘'do these toads look 
so different from all we have seen? 


132 


Why can’t we go into this pretty room?’’ 

“Here, said his little guide, are the 
toads that have lived long enough in 
that upper earth you came from, to 
never return. We don’t like to stay up 
there, our greatest longing is to be able 
to reach Toad Land and remain here. 
Yet every one of us has to stay there 
until he has become unselfish and per- 
fect as a toad on the upper earth may 
be. This lovely place is kept alone for 
those who need never leave, and are 
always finding new joys and pleasures 
which we as yet cannot even under- 
stand.” 

Henry listened, all attention. How 
wonderful it all seemed! Here was a 
little toad teaching him so much, and 
he had thought he knew a great deal 
more than any little frog or toad he had 


133 


seen while playing about the country. 

Mr. Brown Toad suddenly turned 
and told Henry to fly up on his back, it 
was so late, and they must be back to 
their hole in the ground in time to find 
the Queen, or he should be severely 
punished. Never had Mr. Brown Toad 
hopped so fast. The beauties and in- 
teresting sights they had seen kept 
them longer than they had dreamed of, 
and now he hated to think what would 
happen if he were late. 

Rushing back, they reached the great 
bed-room just in time to hear the big- 
gest toad say: “Too late! Too late! you 
cannot leave Toadville in the proper 
way now till to-morrow.’’ 

Poor little Henry began to cry, and 
thought now of his home, the big apple 
tree, and how he would be missed by 
134 


everybody. Mr. Brown Toad shed the 
most pitiful tears when thinking of the 
dreadful punishment which all toads 
got when remaining away from their 
duties too long. Just then, while rub- 
bing his eyes, small Henry felt the ring 
he had won as a prize from the deep 
blue pool. '‘Hurrah,” he cried, “dear 
Mr. Brown Toad, what foolish friends 
we were, I do so wish we were once 
more beneath our old apple tree!” He 
no sooner expressed these words, than, 
looking about them, they discovered 
themselves on the edge of the little dirt 
hole, where Henry had first met his 
little friend, Mr. Brown Toad. 

“Is it not fine we had the ring! But, 
child, run along quickly to our Queen.” 
“No! no!” said Henry, “you must take 
me,” and with that he again hopped on 
135 


Mr. Brown Toad’s back. They soon 
reached the great golden-rod corner, 
and the little toad seemed to know his 
way straight to where the Queen sat 
upon her golden throne. ''You have 
been gone a long time little one,” she 
said. "I was beginning to wonder it I 
would have to punish you. Lie down 
little boy, and, as long as Brown Toad 
says you have obeyed and been so good, 
ril let you run home to your mother.” 
Again the grass wand began to pat him, 
and it seemed like a spanking in earnest, 
but as he grew bigger and bigger, the 
little hits made him laugh, for he 
thought the little Queen was tickling 
him. Soon she said close to his ear, 
"Get up, now, and remember not to be 
unkind to a poor little toad, for toads 
have a world of their own.” 


136 


Henry stood up, and again he gazed 
over the golden rod, this time standing 
above it. He told Mr. Brown Toad that 
he would be often over to call on him at 
his dirt hole, and perhaps he could visit 
Toad Land again. With this he ran 
over the field, past the apple tree, and 
reached home just as he found his 
mother coming to look for him. 

“Why, my darling child, where have 
you been ? I thought you were lost. It 
is so long since you started for your 
apple tree.’' 

And little Henry climbed upon his 
mother’s lap as they sat on the porch 
steps together, and told her of his 
wonderful experience. 


137 











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